See Also

Experimental Animal Hypnosis

There is evidence to suggest that many (if not
all) animals are susceptible to hypnosis and this section explores some of the
research which demonstrates that hypnosis is indeed
a natural phenomenon within the animal kingdom.

As this is a new section of Hypnotic World and we
are still gathering information about evidence of animal hypnotism, we welcome
any contributions for consideration of publishing on Hypnotic World.

Susceptibility to animal hypnosis is an inherited
trait but is also partly determined by an animal's rearing, as shown by Moore
and Amstey who conducted experiments with sheep and goats, some of which had
been reared by foster-mothers when young and others that were reared normally.
The foster mother animal experimental group proved less susceptible than the
latter group but this was considered to be partly due to the fact that the
fostered animals did not develop the same normal reactions.

It has been demonstrated that chickens can be
hypnotized by holding them still and drawing a chalk line on the ground away
from the beak. One explanation given (Experimentum mirabile de imaginatione
gallinae Kircher) for this was that the birds imagined that they imagined
themselves to be held fast by the chalk line, as by an unbreakable fetter.

The chalk line has subsequently been found to be
totally unnecessary. The best way to hypnotize a chicken is to hold it
firmly on its side on a flat surface for around thirty seconds. Although
the bird will struggle initially, it will suddenly become completely still, the
muscles may become stiff and assume a waxy flexibility - remaining in any
position you care to place them. This immobility can last from one minute
to up to two or more hours with the bird lying inert, until suddenly it will
give a few little squawking sounds before rising to its feet and running away.

H B Gibson, in his book Hypnosis - its Nature and
Therapeutic Uses - states that the record period for a chicken remaining in
hypnosis is 3 hours 47 minutes. When the chicken's eyes are closed it is
likely to remain hypnotized for a longer time length.